Adjustable garment-clasp.



No. 637,33I. Patented Nov. 2|, I899.

E. FLICEK.

ADJUSTABLE GARMENT CLASP.

(Application filed Apr. 19, 1899.)

(No Modal.)

I 5 H 71*;75. E c G 1 r Ix 1 g I 1: i E E e 5 Kr: C I F Witnesses. lnv entor.

0 A% @MMVLJ/ZZZ/ Attorneygg EDl/VARD FLIOEK, OF MILWVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMIL F. BUERGERMEISTER, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE GARM ENT-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,331, dated November 21, 1899.

Application filed April 19, 1899. Serial No. 713,559. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD FLICEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Garment-Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable metallic clasps for fastening pants and other garments.

Heretofore it has been common to provide pants, vests, and similar garments with buckles and straps, by means of which the garment is adjusted to fit the wearer by adjusting the buckle on the strap, in which case the strap or fabric becomes perforated and worn.

The object of my improvement is to provide an adjustable clasp which will serve as a substitute for the buckles and straps heretofore used.

My invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front view of the adj ustable clasp as it appears when constructed from sheet metal. Fig.2 also represents a front view as it appears when constructed from wire. Fig. 3 is a detail representing an end view of one of the clasps.

Like parts are referred to by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A and B are clasps, which are interlocked together by means of the inclosing arms 0 O and pawls D D. The inclosing arms 0 are formed at the inner ends of the clasp B, and the pawls D are formed at the inner ends of the clasp A, the arms 0 being so bent, as indicated in Fig. 3, as to engage around the respective side pieces E E of the clasp A, while the pawls D are so shaped as to engage around the respective side pieces F F of the clasp B, whereby the two clasps are interlocked together. To provide for locking said clasps together at different points of adjustment, the clasp B is provided with two series of opposing ratchet-teeth G G, in which said pawls D are adapted to engage. The respective outer ends of said clasps A and B are provided with fastening-loops H H, by which they are sewed or otherwise secured to the fastening-pieces I I of the garment, as indicated. It will be obvious that when desirous to contract the garment such object is accomplished simply by drawing said clasps toward each other, when the pawls D will spring together and slide over the ratchet-teeth G until the desired adjustment is attained, when said pawls D will automatically spring out and engage in the teeth of the ratchet and hold the garment at the desired point of adjust ment. When, however, it is desirous to loosen the garment, it is necessary simply to press the pieces E slightly toward each other, when said pawls will be disengaged from the ratchet teeth and permitted to slide past them until the desired adjustment is attained, when, as soon as released from the grasp of the user, said pawls will be thrown out by their own elasticity and engaged in the teeth of the ratchet. To facilitate disengaging said pawls, the side pieces E are preferably provided with outward U-shaped bends J J, against which the thumb and finger of the user may be placed when desirous to disengage them from the ratchet. To prevent the fastening-pieces I from being drawn to one side of the fastening-loops H, said loops are preferably provided with angular bends or recesses K K K, as shown on the left in Fig. 2, through which the thread may be drawn when sewing said clasps to the fastening-pieces.

It will be understood that when the clasps are formed of wire, as shown in Fig. 2, the arms 0 are formed by bending the looped ends of the wire over and partially around the side pieces E, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The adjustable garment-fastener, herein described, consisting in the combination of two adjustable clasps interlocked together, one provided with series of retaining-ratchets and the other clasp provided with elastic pawls adapted to be automatically engaged in said ratchet, and means for securing said clasps to a garment, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of a metallic clasp A provided with elastic bearing -pawls D and a jecting bearings or bends J, J, with the clasp B provided with series of retaining-ratchets G and inclosing arms 0 adapted to engage 15 the side pieces E, E of the clasp A, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDVARD FLICEK.

Witnesses:

J AS. 13. ERWIN, EMIL F. BUERGERMEISTER. 

